Social landlord marks 50th year with documentary film

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A social landlord has released a documentary film to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

Notting Hill Housing's film premiered earlier this month at an exclusive preview attended by the mayors of Kensington & Chelsea and Islington, local councillors, housing experts and supporters.

The film, 'Notting Hill at 50', was screened at the historic Electric Cinema, based in the heart of Notting Hill, close to where the organisation was founded in 1963 by Reverend Bruce Kenrick.

The organisation purchased its first property after just one month, on Blenheim Crescent. Now, 50 years later, NHH manages more than 28,000 homes across London and has helped more than 5,000 first time buyers onto the property ladder.

The film showcases NHH’s proud history of innovation, including pioneering shared ownership in the UK in 1980, a move which has since been widely adopted by housing associations throughout the UK. It also described people who helped shape the organisation and key figures throughout NHH’s history. It also pays tribute to NHH’s former chief executive, John Coward, who died just short of seeing the 50th anniversary.

The premier also included a screening of British director Ken Loach’s seminal film ‘Cathy Come Home’, which, when it was broadcast in 1966, did a great deal to raise public awareness of the housing crisis and homelessness.

Kate Davies, NHH chief executive, said: “The two films screened tonight, Notting Hill Housing at 50 and Cathy Come Home, are a fitting commemoration as we reach the end of our 50th anniversary, showing why Notting Hill Housing was set up and our journey from 1963 to today. We are proud of having driven real and sustainable change throughout the last half-century, and of the dynamic and worthwhile institution we are today.

“Since the 1970s, when racial tension was high following the Race Riots, Notting Hill Housing has continued to promote a mixed community and aid integration. Today, our residents represent over 30 nationalities and our progressive approach has resulted in milestone achievements, such as the pioneering of the first Shared Ownership scheme; an affordable way of stepping onto the property ladder, which has since been adopted industry-wide and opened up the property market to thousands more potential home-owners.”

The film can be watched at www.nhh50.com, NHH’s special 50th anniversary website.